Of course, a missed or late period can be a sign of early pregnancy to many women who regularly menstruate. Although a delayed period may be caused due to several reasons, you may look for other signs of pregnancy to unsolve the mystery.
- Fatigue or Tiredness
Fatigue or tiredness comes as the most common early symptom during the first trimester (weeks 0 to 13) of pregnancy. Rapid shooting up of progesterone level can make you feel sleepy and more tired than usual.
- Spotting or mild bleeding
Spotting or mild bleeding can be experienced during the early weeks of pregnancy due to the implantation of the fertilized egg into the uterine wall. Mild abdominal cramps during implantation can also occur in some, while others may experience no symptoms at all.
- tenderness/soreness in breasts
The first month of the pregnancy may bring changes in your breasts as well. With some swelling and tenderness on the touch, you may also experience soreness or a sense of fullness in your breasts.
- Headaches
Shooting hormonal levels and blood flow during early pregnancy can cause mild headaches in some.
- Nausea or morning sickness
Nausea and vomiting often come as the most common early sign of pregnancy. Although not compulsory, most women experience it during the first 14 weeks of their pregnancy. Most often encountered in the morning, this phenomenon can be experienced any time of the day.
- Frequent urination
Frequent urination also comes as a significant clue for early pregnancy, which may continue for months together.
Other causes of a late period than pregnancy
Pregnancy can only occur when a female egg is fertilized by a male sperm, which can show its first sign as a missed period. Nevertheless, other reasons that may delay the normal menstruation cycle are-
- Extreme weight loss or weight gain
- Stressful situations
- Improper sleep routine, sleep-deprived due to work, travel, etc.
- Breastfeeding mother
- Course of Illness
- Drug usage
- Practicing Rigorous exercise
What should you do next?
After ruling out the causes mentioned above, you need to confirm your pregnancy by Home pregnancy tests. These test kits utilize urine to check for a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) that is only present when you are pregnant.
If your tests come positive,,, consult your gynecologist for a further treatment plan and if it comes negative, then consult your physician to rule out the possible reasons and start the treatment at the earliest possible.
We wish you the best of your health in either of the case!
References
1. Source Link: https://www.medicinenet.com/how_late_can_period_be_before_know_youre_pregnant/article.htm